Originally published by Andrew Banks of The Daily Telegraph
01. 08. 2026
Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has launched legal action against the ABC and several of its senior executives, including chair Kim Williams, deputy chair Lisa Caffery and managing director Hugh Marks.
The move comes after the national broadcaster reportedly refused to apologise for – or remove – a segment that allegedly encouraged viewers to commit acts of sodomy and murder against the Hancock Prospecting boss.
A legal letter has been sent out detailing serious civil and criminal breaches arising from the Race Around the World program and its continued availability on the ABC’s digital platforms.
The controversial program featured a French-revolutionary-style depiction of a violent attack on Ms Rinehart.
The segment encouraged the audience to act “when the revolution comes”, stating: “Because when the revolution comes will you hide under the bed or will you know exactly how to shove a stick right up Gina Rinehart’s butthole, stirring it round, mixing her guts up nice and smooth, to make one big sausage roll to make something out of nothing.”
Despite Hancock Prospecting having sought the removal of the content and an apology a week prior, Mr Marks, who also serves as the ABC’s editor-in-chief, reportedly did not respond and his media team later defended the segment as “editorially justifiable”.
Hancock Prospecting released a statement outlining the basis for their legal action: “On 23 July 2026, Hancock Prospecting Pty Ltd (Hancock) wrote to the ABC Board regarding the publication and continued publication of material concerning its Executive Chairman, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO.
“Hancock called upon the ABC to immediately remove the material from all ABC platforms, publicly apologise to Mrs Rinehart, and undertake a comprehensive investigation into how the material came to be commissioned, approved and published, together with full accountability for those responsible.
“One week has now elapsed. The ABC’s Board and senior management have provided no substantive public response, nor any substantive response to Hancock or Mrs Rinehart, and have taken no steps to remove the material from ABC platforms, despite widespread public condemnation and the serious risks its publication and continued publication pose to Mrs Rinehart.”
In response to the controversy, the ABC published a statement on behalf of the filmmaker, Kate McGuinness, which they supported. Ms McGuinness stated: “The sense of humour featured in each of my films on the Race Around The World program is farcical. In no way was it my intention to promote violence. My writing is cartoonish and always satirical. Unfortunately, jokes do not land with everyone. Its purpose was never to be taken literally. I apologise to anyone I’ve offended.”
The ABC confirmed its ombudsman is independently reviewing audience complaints.
